NASA

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a United States government agency that conducts and coordinates research of flight within and beyond the earth's atmosphere. NASA employs about 21,000 scientists, engineers, and technicians in 10 major installations. These facilities include the John F. Kennedy Space Center, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. 

    NASA was established in 1958 as an independent agency. It absorbed the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NASA has launched numerous unmanned and manned space flights. The unmanned flights included various kinds of artificial satellites and space probes. NASA accomplished a major goal in 1969, when its Apollo spacecraft became the first to land human beings on the moon. In 1973, NASA launched the first U.S. manned space laboratory into orbit around the earth. In 1981, it sent out the first manned space shuttle, a reusable space vehicle. 

    In 1986, NASA suffered the worst accident in its history. The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launching on January 28. All seven crew members were killed, including Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire teacher. Soon afterward, NASA halted shuttle flights while it worked to improve shuttle safety and resolve management problems. Manned space flight resumed in September 1988, with the launch of the redesigned space shuttle Discovery. 



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